About HGF

Wellbeing

The mental wellbeing of our entire team is extremely important to us and we have taken, and continue to take, significant steps to promote the wellbeing of our people. With recent global events changing day-to-day working practices, and our entire team currently working from home, it is critical that we provide essential, ongoing support and advice.

We support our people by providing them with practical tips and hints, stress management workshops, signposts to advisory services and train managers to raise awareness around the topic of mental health – teaching them how to identify the signs of mental ill health in those they work with and within themselves. We provide numerous resources and manager guides, and through sharing articles within our Intranet, company newsletter, and via coaching and mentoring, our managers and people regularly check-in with colleagues.

Wellness group

Recognising how highly pressurised the IP profession is, HGF’s HR team works with partners to explore, establish and promote wellness and work-life balance initiatives across the firm. From investigating improved approaches, a wellness agenda has been implemented to include a holiday purchase scheme, an employee assistance programme, mental health first aiders and educational partnerships with external mental health organisations.

 

Mental health first aiders

There are 16 trained mental health first aiders within our business, including partners. Trained to spot the signs of mental ill-health, our mental health first aiders are on-hand to direct people to the relevant professional help, whilst supporting them in the workplace. Our mental health first aiders are accredited by Mental Health First Aid England, a licensed provider of mental health first aid training from MHFA International.

Employee assistance programme

As a business, HGF relies on its outstanding team, across every function, to drive and deliver its success. It is of utmost importance to us to ensure our people receive optimum care for their wellbeing. We partner with a specialist provider to deliver a confidential employee assistance programme (EAP). Voted best employee assistance programme for three years running, our EAP offers a range of wellbeing services, including counselling, critical incident and trauma support, occupational health services, financial information and much more. The services are free of charge for our people, are confidential and can be accessed online, on the phone or via the programme’s exclusive smartphone app 24/7, all year round.